6.--A disastrous fire occurred at New Buckenham, in a range of shops and
private houses. Damage was done to the amount of 3,000.
8.--Mr. William Amhurst Tyssen-Amherst was returned unopposed as the
representative of the division of West Norfolk, to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Sir William Bagge, Bart., M.P.
16.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, the Town Clerk reported
the receipt of a letter from the Home Office, informing him that the old
City Gaol had been sold for 7,505, and that, in accordance with the
provisions of the Prisons Act, the sum of 1,984 0s. 5d. was due from that
amount to the Corporation.
29.--Mr. Charles Dillon, "one of the few living actors of the old school"
commenced a twelve nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre. He was
supported by Miss Bella Mortimer. Among the plays produced were
"Richelieu," "Othello," "The Merchant of Venice," "The Gamester," "Much
Ado about Nothing," and "Macbeth." The last-named tragedy was performed
on Saturday, April 10th, on which occasion Mr. Dillon made his final
appearance on the Norwich stage. (_See_ June 24th, 1881.)
30.--The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took
place. The nominees were Mr. J. J. Column and Mr. J. H. Tillett
(liberals), sad Mr. Henry Harben, of Seaford Lodge, Hampstead, and the
Hon. F. W. B. Massey-Mainwaring, 30, Grosvenor Place, London
(Conservatives). The potting on the 31st resulted as follows: Colman,
6,549; Tillett, 6,512; Harben, 5,242; Massey-Mainwaring 5,032.
31.--Sir Robert Jacob Buxton, Bart., and Mr. Clare Sewell Read
(Conservatives), and Mr. Robert Thornhagh Gurdon (Liberal) were nominated
candidates for the representation of South Norfolk. The polling took
place on April 6th, and the counting of the ballot-papers was proceeded
with at the Shirehall, Norwich, on the 7th. "The result of the first
count was a dead heat between Mr. Read and Mr. Gurdon, the numbers for
both being 2,906. Mr. Read's agent demanded a second count, and on the
clerks going through the papers, one of them discovered a voting-paper
for Buxton and Read, on the back of which the voter, in distinct
violation of the Ballot Act, had inscribed his name. The rejection of
this paper made the numbers as between Mr. Read and Mr. Gurdon 2,905 and
2,906. Thus the seat was lost by one vote, and the official return was
made as follows; Buxton, 2,917; Gurdon, 2,906; Read, 2905." A proposed
petition against the return of Mr. Gurdon was abandoned.